Page 136 of Ruled By Wizard

“I always am.” Taking her mug, he drank half the wine.

“Hey, get your own glass next time.”

“Why, when I can share yours?”

Natalia looked down, prepared to argue, but caught her breath at the way he was staring at her. She had never been comfortable showing affection in public, but Wizard looked too darn irresistible.

Lowering her mouth, she kissed him.

Embarrassed, she started to pull away, but Wizard stopped her by placing a hand on the back of her neck and holding her in place. He turned the kiss into a passionate assault on her senses. Her hand went to his chest, gripping his T-shirt. Slanting his mouth over hers, he slid his tongue inside, scattering every rational thought.

The kiss had gone far beyond what she had intended to display in front of Diamond and Knox. Using the hand on Wizard’s chest for leverage, Natalia pulled away, flushing when she saw Knox had maneuvered Diamond onto her back on the couch and was lying on top of her, kissing her.

Before she could scramble off the loveseat, Wizard caught her mouth in another kiss, drawing her back into a passionate daze.

How long had Diamond and Knox been kissing? How long had Wizard been kissing her? Long enough for Knox to move Diamond into a different position.

“Let’s lie down on the bed,” Wizard murmured. “We’ll have more room.”

Natalia was about to refuse when she looked toward Diamond and Knox.

They were no longer kissing. Knox had paused and was looking at her questioningly, asking without words if she wanted him to stop.

The tenderness on his face made Natalia’s breath catch at the beauty of the love the married couple shared. Diamond stared back at Knox, then slowly nodded.

Judging from Knox’s expression, something significant had happened for Diamond to give the slight nod.

Natalia had seen the dark shadows in Diamond’s eyes during the two weeks she had been there. Nor had she missed the scar at the base of her neck. Diamond had remained by Natalia’s side most of that time, encouraging her to talk about her kidnapping when she wanted to and distracting her when she didn’t.

Diamond had helped her, and somehow, Natalia sensed she was witnessing a breakthrough with the couple.

“Okay,” she whispered, turning back to Wizard.

He had been watching the other couple, too.

Standing, Wizard bent and picked her up. He carried her to the bed, laid her down, then stretched out beside her. Turning off the light, he left the television on and started another movie before drawing her against his shoulder.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

Hearing Diamond’s breathy moans, Natalia slipped her fingers beneath Wizard’s T-shirt and rubbed his sleek chest.

“For what?”

Wizard slowly raised the volume of the movie. “You know what. She’s had a rough time lately. We’ve all been worried about her. She wanted to move permanently to a small island they own. Watching you recover has helped her open up to Knox, just as you’ve opened up to me and her. She’s excited about taking more cases in Ohio. She even talked Knox into buying a small house here so they can bring their children the next time she visits.”

Sliding closer, Natalia kissed Wizard’s neck then playfully nipped his earlobe.

“Careful.” Gliding his hand down to her bottom, he pulled her hips against him. “I might get the wrong idea.”

Her hand traveled in the opposite direction and began unbuttoning his jeans. Smiling, she lifted her head and rested her cheek on her palm. “Wizard, I’m practically giving you a written invitation. What does a girl have to do to get some action?”

Instead of giving her the suggestive answer she expected, he searched her eyes in the dim light. “Say you’ll marry me, and I’ll fuck you all night long.”

“I can’t do that.”

The look on his face made her immediately regret teasing him. Pressing her palms to his cheeks, she lowered her voice.

“I’ll marry you, but we can’t fuck all night long. I don’t want to give Knox an inferiority complex.”